Psalm 127 3

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. "

Mind over Splatter

Pick your pottery piece and paint way. The 7 girls at the birthday party brushed their colors on vigorously. Some made boxes, but most picked a favorite animal.

Example pieces

More examples

A useful example

I have a thing for..

I didn't have a chance to look for the name of the kind of art that replicates nature.... I really love it. Could it be its sense of permanence?

A garden at Desert Breeze Park

Framing nature

Taken with my new camera. I can do things I could not do with my other one. Must read the manual.

Indoor Party Places

The local indoor wave pool.

You best shower after a folly in this pool or your skin will scream from the effects of the chlorine.

Math and Science

Education is a fascinating endeavour to be involved in. Learning for me is like water. I succumb to less than optimal mental/emotional states if I am not permitted to let my mind entertain questions and pursue trains of thought as they come alive in my head. Education becomes the perfect realm to let loose. I become better prepared to guide my daughters in their journey to brilliance... Yes, I expect brilliance.... Just today I learned that females are considered a minority when taking photography class in high school.

Yesterday I heard a strong proponent for math and science improvement in public education and how the students of today are the work force of tomorrow. Today, I smiled as the art teacher didn't see the value of math and science. As a parent, for now, I will focus on exposing the young ones to many different subjects, while I also am vigilant of specific talents that can be nurtured.

A learning mind is a happy mind. :-)

Whispers

I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.

- Henry Ward Beecher

Quoted in How Shall We Live by Joan Chittister, OSB.

Flow Charts

Diagrams or flowcharts are staples in company meetings or presentations

Fresh, Sweet, Unique...

Edible Arrangements

Lovely and really fresh....

As I started removing the fruit to store in the fridge, I noticed that I could also use the greens for stir fry or soup.

But I was more amazed by the head of iceberg lettuce that served as the floral green sponge that held all the arrangement together.

Isn't it nice getting extraordinary gifts from your co-workers? It's an EDIBLE ARRANGEMENT.

How to celebrate a birthday - my way

Do it all week long. My young ones are game for that. Eat out. Enjoy friends and family. Then, there's the inner, private, grateful celebration. Happy Birthday to me. :-)

Since you've been gone...

A month.

It finally opens

Tempe Center for the Arts

Main entrance

The lobby

The outside pool

Childsplay stage

The Childsplay productions will be worth every penny. The place rocks!

Church

Sundays are for church going and family lunches. Today, I left the Sanctuary feeling full, happy, and safe. The general message was about tolerating differences in others as they walk their way to Christ. The music is always one of my favorite parts, and I sing in full expression. There is no singing like church singing. OK, maybe African music is also high on the list too. But, in song, one praises the Beloved in ways that words cannot. God is Great.

Mini Pizza

Made by a little cook in the house. She used flour and water to make the dough, ketchup for the sauce, and Cheddar cheese for the topping. Talk about using available ingredients. It was cut in four pieces with a pizza cutter and we ate it. :-)

People say, "What good can one person do? What is the sense of our small effort?" They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time. We can be responsible only for the one action of the present moment. But we can beg for an increase of love in our hearts that will vitalize and transform all our individual actions, and know that God will take them and multiply them, as Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes.
- Dorothy Day
from Loaves and Fishes

Inspiration

See what no eye can see, go where no foot can go, choose that which is no choice–then you may hear what makes no sound–God’s voice. - Angelus Silsius

Quoted in How Shall We Live by Joan Chittister, OSB.

When the sun rises.

O cafe da manha. O meu favorito. Duas canecas, e tudo comeca bem.

Closer, this time...

Last time we were in the area, we saw her from across the river. That would be no more... I wanted the young ones to step on that island and get as close as possible. One can spend half a day there, it's pretty amazing.

The Hilton of Short Hills